Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced The Central City Recovery Roadmap Thursday, meant to “activate streets for maximum citizen engagement” and encourage citizens to visit downtown now that the COVID-19 pandemic is receding. The map, in the works since late last year, emphasizes public transit, new pedestrian and cycling infrastructure and planning for new traffic patterns. In a statement, Lightfoot said, "From introducing a new set of street activations to get residents outdoors and encourage them to support our businesses to working closely with scores of civic organizations and other stakeholders to ensure a solid recovery, our city is more than prepared to welcome residents and visitors alike back to a thriving downtown.” The city is also partnering with organizations like the Chicago Loop Alliance and the Magnificent Mile Association to sponsor a series of programs meant to invite citizens back to downtown — including “family activities, Instagrammable installations, dining, and shopping,” per a news release. 

The Metropolitan Planning Council is hosting a series of events titled Drinking 123 Academy, on water affordability, lead service lines and climate change planning. The series will take place between June 17 and July 17. The first event on June 17 covers water affordability including rate development and “identifying water burdened customers.” The second, titled “Accelerating Climate Action,” will focus on the launch of the Chicago Metropolitan Region’s Climate Action Plan and is slated for July 13. The final event, set to focus on lead service lines, will look at the prospects for replacing lead service lines in the city. It will take place July 17.